Yesterday was Flag Day. I went down to AMK with Ariela, Jie Ying and Pearlyn after sectionals. We signed in at 11.25am and originally intended to hide our donation bags and slack off to have lunch, but I don't think my conscience allowed me to do that. I dared to say I wanted to cheat and just eat lunch and gain 1 CIP hour at the same time, but when I got the bag, couldn't bring myself to do that. I'm quite glad I didn't. So we decided to buy some polar pastries to munch on, taking turns.

I stationed myself right outside AMK MRT, at a road junction crossing. After walking about in circles there and begging people for money, I think I have a rather good idea of how Singaporeans react to Flags. I must have said "Hi, would you like to make a donation to St. Luke's Hospital and Eldercare?" about a few hundred times. Over the course of the 4+ hours, I gave my question more than 50% discount.

There was this particular old man whom I asked. He started telling me about how there is a financial crisis and I shouldn't be asking people to make donations. Then he started asking me if I knew of the NKF and Ren Ci scandal. TT Durai and the Monk. That's about all I could catch in Chinese. And because that guy was lecturing on economic-social studies in Chinese, I could only devote my limited Chinese brain cells to understanding what he was trying to say. I wanted to rebut him but realised that by the time I wanted to make my point, he switched topic. He ended off by asking me why I was bothering to stand under the hot sun when for all I know, the money I was collecting could be used carelessly. I find it hard to believe that I actually managed to reply what I replied in Chinese so fast. I told him that it didn't matter, because I was just trying my best to help others. He just looked at me, shook his head and went back to his own stuff. Looking back, I realised I could have said that I didn't have a choice, blame the school, MOE, St. Luke's. I don't know why those thoughts didn't even run past my mind. I was so fixed on defending CIP and caring for the community. Where did these values come from, and where did my usual complaining go? I just realised I'd grown up a bit.

While I was going around asking for donations, I felt happy when some kind person would take the time to stop and slot some change into the bag. I didn't feel that annoyed with people who smiled and rejected nicely. But because of those who ignored my pleas, I learnt my Flag Day lesson. From now on, I will donate money if I come across a Flag Day thing. It is some sort of encouragement when you see your stickers finishing and the bag getting more tiring to hold. Therefore, I will try to make other (poor) Flag Day victims feel better. After thinking a bit after the Flag Day experience, I suddenly realised that something was wrong. Remember I mentioned that I was glad when people donated, and frustrated at those who didn't bother? Why. After thinking about it in a rested state of mind, I realised that the money wouldn't have gone to me after all. So why should I have been so diligent and work over time when it came to begging for money for others? I remember I used to not care about donation cards, or any hong bao drive. Then again I realised, I have grown up.

There was a rather amusing incident. When I asked this lady if she wanted to make a donation, she immediately pointed to her Flag Day Pass (the St. Luke's sticker) and said hurriedly, "huan liao, huan liao!" Translated: Paid already, paid already! Most people don't want to donate twice, or they want to ensure a peaceful Flag Day without further disturbance, hence the one-day walkabout pass. I don't think that's wrong or immoral. But they don't have to make it seem as if I'm selling stickers.

Another interesting thing that happened was a minor car accident. I heard some banging noise that sounded quite unusual yet to quote Evangeline, "the sound of a thousand terrible things headed this way." The car rammed into another vehicle and its headlight got such a shock it popped out of its socket and dropped onto the road. I watched for about 5 seconds and got bored enough to return from my digression. I was so engrossed I only realised it when I suddenly saw that the road looked normal again.

I signed off at 4pm and rushed home so I could reach Eunos Gospel Hall by 6.30pm. Samuel said he saw me begging people for money, but too bad he was on a bus and couldn't have just stopped by to drop in a donation. My face was so sun burnt Rebecca thought something must have gotten into me and I decided to put on make up. My legs, the lower portion, ached madly. It's the type of pain that isn't a muscle ache, but it just makes the whole leg feel like it is getting blown up. But I think all this suffering is worth it. What I experienced was probably negligible to what those sick, old people are feeling.